The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, near Highland, California last week announced plans for a new 500-room hotel, 4,000 seat event venue and parking structure large enough for 2,200 cars next to the existing San Manuel Casino.
The announcement begins the 45-day review process for the Tribal Environment Impact Report.
So far, the cost of the project has not been revealed, nor has the name of the hotel. Besides the hotel there will be a resort style spa and pool, high end dining, plus 55,000 more square footage for gaming.
Groundbreaking could begin in 2018 with completion sometime in 2020.
The expansion will create 1,400 temporary jobs and 1,200 permanent ones.
“This is an opportunity for the tribe to continue to remain vibrant in this market space,” San Manuel CEO Jerry Paresa said. “It’s a win-win for the community. Not a lot of investment is going on in San Bernardino, and we have the opportunity to move the needle. We’re really excited about the opportunity.”
Rockin’ Casino
San Manuel Casino recently converted its former bingo hall into the Rockin’ Casino, featuring slot machines that celebrates musicians such as the Rolling Stones, Elvis, Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson.
There are also rock star posters and large high def TV screens running clips of performances.
The Rockin’ Casino area also includes an expansion of the Rock & Brews restaurant and bar that is the joint project of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss. The eatery will double in size.
There will also be the new Tropical Storm bar offering drinks such as “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Pour Some Sugar on me.”
San Manuel Chairman Lynn Valbuena told an audience of elected officials, members of the tribe, employees and VIPs last week, “A year or so ago, this was our bingo hall. We revamped it, renovated it, did all of this.”
San Manuel is one of several Southern California casino in the midst of an expansion. They include Pechanga Resort & Casino, adding a $285 million new hotel town, pool complex and more restaurants; Soboba Casino, which is build a new casino and hotel, and Pala Casino Spa & Resort, which just held a groundbreaking for a $170 million expansion.
